‘If ever there’s a Premier League club it’s Leeds United’ – Redknapp

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QPR boss Harry Redknapp says his team can expect a tough challenge against Leeds United at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Rangers need to get their bid for automatic promotion back on track following three consecutive defeats, while Brian McDermott’s side are still in the running for a play-off spot.

“It will be tough. Leeds are a big club,” said Redknapp.

“Leeds are a massive club. When you talk about big football clubs, if ever there’s a Premier League club it’s Leeds United.

“They’re one of the [biggest] clubs in English football and have been since the days of Don Revie.

“Their crowds are incredible – fantastic support. They’ll fill one end tomorrow and get 28,000-30,000 people every week who are fanatical and love their club.”

Rangers’ recent results have seen them fall seven points behind second-placed Burnley, but Redknapp insisted it would not be a disaster if they miss out on the top two.

“The play-offs a disaster for QPR? No,” he said.

“At the start of the year, I must be honest, I went to Peterborough and we got smashed up and I went down to Exeter and we played absolute rubbish and I thought ‘We’re in a relegation battle with this lot’.

“But we’ve been bang there all year. If you have to go up though the play-offs you’d take that all day, but we want to go up automatically and it’s still a big possibility.”

Rangers are still without Andy Johnson, who has an ankle problem, while Charlie Austin and Danny Simpson remain sidelined with shoulder and back injuries respectively.

Simpson looks likely to return in the next couple of weeks and the club are hopeful that top scorer Austin will play again this season.

Niko Kranjcar has been passed fit following a slight hamstring problem.

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